Electrically-energized spring motor



:Sep 1930- J. SCHIBLER ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED SPRING MOTOR Filed Sept. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Shut 1 Sept. 23, 1930. J sc 1,776,706

ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED SPRING MOTOR Filed Sept. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jrwwntm dsahipler Patented )Sept. 23.1930

UNITE STATES Parser!v 1 OFFICE Josnrn'scnmmn, or can'rox, omo, assranoa 1:0 mm w. or noon! nrvnn, omo

WRI CALLY-EN EBGIZED SPRING IOTCB Applicationfled September 88, Serial I9. 85,408.

My invention relates to spring motors particularly adapted for use as drive units for electric watches and clocks, as well as for use in suitable sizes as motor driving units for an other desired mechanisms or machines. he ob'ects of the present invention include the simplification and improvement of the construction and arrangementof electrically energized ring motors, whereby the spring motors of t e present invention are easier an more economical to manufacture, are more reliable and certain in their operation, and are subject to less maintenance than has been the case with electrically ener ized spring motors for similar services whic have heretofore been used. 7

Most electrically energized spring motors include an electro-magnet', a s ring, a drive shaft a. battery or the like, an an automatic switch the spring being intermittentl energized by the electro-magnet for turning the drive shaft for a predetermined time, and the switch being cooperatively connected with .the drive shaft and the magnet to make and break an electric circuit through the magnet and the battery atthe roper times for intermittently energizing t e spring.

Particularly for use in driving watch or clock movements, means should be provided for 'maintainin a constant torque on the drive-shaft, at a 1 times, and particularly during the energizing ofthe spring.-

More particularly, the ob'ects of the present im rovements include t e provision of a simpli ed and more eflicient mechanism be-' tween the electro-magnet and the spring for intermittently energizing the spring, a simplified and more eflicient switch mechanism, and simplified and more eficient means for maintainig constant drive shaft torque during the energizing'of the spring, together with a simplified and more eflicient arrangement of the other detail parts of the spring motor.

These and ancilla objects are attained in the improved electrically energized spring motor comprising the present invention, a

preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter set forth in detail and is illustrated in motor front plate 20, and the shaft '15 has drive shaft 15 o the spindle 13 and shaped outer spindle and the accompanying drawings forming part hei eof, in whichfi d f h igurelisa agmentarysi eviewo t 0 improved electrically energized tor, illustrated as being used for riving an electric watch, as in the direction of the arrows 11, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary plan sectional view thereof as on line 2--2, ig. 1,- the various elements of the im roved swltch mechanism being illustrated in their positions just after the circuit has been opened, and certain of the electrical parts of the motor being illustrated diagrammatically;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the positions of the various switch elements just after the circuit has been closed;

Fig. 4, a side view of the motor asin the direction of the arrows 44, Fig. 2, after the main spring has been partiall deenergized;

Fig. 5, a sectional view of t e motor as on line 5-5, Fig. 2; and 7 Fig.6, a fragmentary sectional view there of as on line 66, Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the drawings. l

The im roved electrically energized spring motor in 'cated generally at 10 in the preferred embodiment, is illustrated as drivin a watch or clockmovement of an desired construction and indicated atll, t a watch parts movement including a drive s indle 13 exoutwardly through the ack plate 14 thereo .and se arably connected. with the F the motor as by providing a flat surface 16 at one side of the outer end of l'k a pad 17' i ii i 1 as a aperture zine reera stee disk 18 H111". bjafolce tinl slzitilble counterbore 19 the end'of the shaft The improved electrically ene g spmg I motor 10, includesa front 20"and va plate 21 spaced apart and'secured in a usual manner by pillars 22, for forming a suitable mounting for themechamsms of the motor.

the irregularly The outer endof the shaft 15 is arranged 1 to rotate in a suitable aperture 23 in the secured thereon an improved half barrel 24, there being a suitable washer 25 interposed between the opposite faces of the front plate 20 and the barrel end.

The half barrel 24 opens towards the back plate, and the shaft 15 has secured thereon within the opening of the half barrel 24 a collar 26 which forms a thrust seat for a half barrel 27 rotatably mounted on the main body of the shaft 15, the half barrel 27 opening towards the main plate 20.

The half barrel 24 comprises a disk-28 and a sectoral cylindric wall 29 extending as aforesaid towards the back plate, and the half barrel 27 comprises a disk .30 and asectoral cylindric wall 31 extending towards the front plate. Opposite ends 32 and 33 of the sectoral walls 29 and 31, respectively, are arranged to abut against each other to limit the angular movement of the half barrels with respect to each other, as is best illustrated in Fig.6. The half barrels 241and27 and the cylindric walls 29 and 31 thereof form arm members, the first secured to the shaft 15 and the second rotatably mounted thereon.

Energy storing means. which may be a sectoral spring 34 has One end engaged as at 35 with the other end of the sectoral wall 29, and the other spring end is engaged as at 36 with the other end of the'sectoral wall 31, normally tending to move the disks so that the ends 32 and 33 will tend to abut each other, for purposes hereinafter to be set forth. A ratchet wheel 37 is secured to the half barrel 27, and a main drive sleeve 38 is rotatably mounted on the body 39 of the shaft 1? at the back plate side of the ratchet wheel 3 At the front plate end of the sleeve-38 an outwardly extending flange 40-is formed for spacing the ratchet wheel 37 from an adjusting ratchet wheel 41 secured on the sleeve 38.

Energy storing means which may be a spiral main spring 42has one end secured to the collar 40 and the other end secured to a post 43 extending fromthe front late towards the back. plate for this and ot ier purposes.

The outer end 44 of the shaft 15 is reduced in diameter and a washer 45 may beplaced' thereon for being interposed between the end of the main body 39 of the shaft and the end of the sleeve 38, and a bridge 46, one end of which is removably secured at the outer end of the post 43 and theother end of which is removably secured at the outer end of a post 47, extending from the front plate 20,v a suitable aperture being provided in the bridge 46 for forminga hearing at the outer end 44 of the shaft 15.

An improved laminated rotating armature 48 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 38 between the adjusting ratchet wheel 41 and the washer 45; and the laminated armature best illustrated in Fig. 2.

wheel.

'48 preferably includes three laminae 48, 48",

and 48, the laminae having an S-profile, as

The outer laminae 48* and 48" are provided with preferably radially. extending automatic contact mounting arms 49' and 49, between the outer ends of which a contact bell crank 50 is pivotally mounted as at 51,

the bell crank including a contact arm 52' normally extending substantially parallel with the main body 53 of the armature,'and a trip and actuating arm 54 extending towards the shaft 15.

A catch bell crank 55 is pivotally-mounted between the laminae 48 and 48 as at 56, and includes an actuating arm 57 extending laterally outwardly from the, body 53 of the armature, and a catch 'arm 58 extendin alongside of the body 53 ofthe armature an provided at its outer end with a catch 59 arranged toengage and disengage the outer end of the trip arm 54 of the contact bell crank 50.

. A tension spring 60. is connected at one end with one hell crank and the other end with the other bell crank to normally tend to rotate the same counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2.

As viewed in Fig. 2, the ratchet wheel 37 has teeth arranged for opposing clockwise rotation when impinged by 'a suitable pawl,

and the adjusting ratchet wheel 41 has teeth arranged for opposing counter-clockwise rotation when impinged by a suitable pawl, and

at one side of the shaft 15, a pawl 61 is pivotally mounted on the armature 48 for thus opposing rotation of the ratchet wheel 37, and an oppositely operating pawl 62 is pivotally mounted preferably on the same mounting as at 63 as is provided for the pawl 61'; and the pawl 62 opposes rotation of the adjusting ratchet 41, the pawls being connected by the ends of a tension spring 64 for normally urging each The back plate 21 has mounted thereon a pair of magnet cores 65 which extend from pawl towards its respective ratchet the back plate toward the front plate into the concave end 66 of the S -shaped armature 48.

Each core 65. has a coil 67 mounted thereon and connected with each other in series, the

eleetro-magnets thus formed being suitably insulated from the motorframe.

. An arcuate contact shoe "68 is mounted on and insulated from the front plate 20, for

engagement and disengagement with" a contact tongue 69 extending from the contact arm 52 of the contact bell crank 50..

One free terminal of the electro-magnet coils is connected as at 70 .with the contact shoe 68, and the other free terminal ofthe electro-ma'gnet coils isconnected through the insulated binding post'71, with one terminal of a battery 72, the other terminal of which is'co'nnected with the frame of the motor to which the contact tongue 69 is grounded."

A spring pawl 73 is secured to the plate 20, and its outer .end extends into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 37 for preventing clockwise rotation thereof, as viewed in Fi 2. I I

The operatlon of the improved electrically energized motor is as follows:

The driveshaft 15 of the motor being separabliy connected as aforesaid with the drive spin le 13 of the watch movement, a resistin torque is applied to the drive shaft 15,

an the usual escapement of the watch movement permits rotation of the drive shaft 15 if a suitable driving torque is ap lied thereto.

This driving torque is applie in the present improved electrically energized spring motor primarily by means of the s iral main spring 42, and at oertaintimes by t e sectoral secon ary spring 34, although it is obvious that other types of spring may be used by suitably modifying t e spring connections, whereby the effective operation of the present motor may still be attained.

As illustrated in Fi 1 and 2 the various parts of the improve sprin motor are in their several positions, just a r the electromagnet has been energized andthe armature 48 rotated clockwise to the osition illustrated in Fig. 2.by the attraction of the pole of the energizedelectro-magnet. 7

buring the rotation of the armature 48, the pawl 61 ratchets over the ratchet wheel 37, this wheel being prevented from clockwise rotation .as viewed in Fig. 2, by the spring pawl 73, whereby the secondary spring 34 reacting at 36 against the half barrel 2 secured to the wheel 37, continues rotation of the drive shaftcounter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, by the pressure of the other end of the spring at 35 against the half barrel 24 which is secured to e drive shaft.

It is to be understood that counter-clockwise rotations of the various elements, as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, when viewed from the opposite side of the front plate 20, are clockwise rotations; the face, not shown, of the watch movement 11, being on the aforesaid opposite side of the front plate 20.

In other words, when the ratchet wheel 37 and half barrel 27 are maintained stationary by the spring pawl 73 during the rotation of the armature .48 when t e electromagnet is energized, the secondary spring 34 It is however essential for the proper op-.

eration of the watch movement that the drive shaft always have a driving'torque applied thereto, and without the secondary sprin 34 functioning as aforesaid, during the a oresaid main spring energizing rotation of the armature 48 and the ratcheting of the pawl 61 over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 37, no drivin to the rive shaft 15.

After the armature 48 has been rotated counter-clockwise as aforesaid, and has assumed the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the outer end of the spiral main spring 42 being secured as aforesaid to the post 43 and the inner end being secured to the collar 40 of the sleeve 38, which sleeve is secured to the adjusting ratchet wheel 41, and the counterclockwise operatin pawl- 62 providing a driving connection between the armature 48 and the adjusting ratchet wheel 41, the spiral main sprin 42 will be energized. I

It is to e understood that the adjusting ratchet wheel 41 isprovided for ad usting the initial tension on the spiral main spring 42, by partial clockwise rotation of the adjusting ratchet wheel 41, when the armature 48 is stationary. I

After the proper initial tension has been given to the spiralimain spring 42, as aforesaid, in the operation of the motor, the armature 48 is in effect connected with the sleeve 38.

The spiral main s ring 42 being thus energized, it will urge the armature 48 to rotate counter-clockwise as viewed inFig. 2; thereby, throu h the pawl 61, rotating the drive ratchet w eel 37 counter-clockwise and imtorque whatever would be appliedv pinging the end 36 of the half barrel 27 tact shoe 68, is arranged to automatica ly close a circuit through the battery 72 and the coil windin 67 when the armature has reached the position illustrated in Fig. 3,and to automatically open this circuit whenthe armature has been rotated in the reverse ,di-f

rection to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the trip and actuating arm 54 of the contact bell crank 50 has been moved against the post ,43, thereby rotating the contact arm 52 away from the arcuate contact shoe 68 and breaking the electrical connection between the contact shoe 69 and the arcuate contact shoe 68.

The spring 60 causes the catch 59 on the catch arm 58 of the catch bell crank 55 to engage the outer end of the trip arm 54 maintaining the contact bell crank in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 during the major portion of the main spring deenergizing rotation of the armature 48.

Very shortly before the end of-such main spring deenergizing rotation of the armature 48, the actuating arm 57 of the catch bell crank is impinged by the moving armature against one of the electro-magnet cores 65, thereby rotating the catch bell crank 55 clockwise and disengaging the outer end of the trip arm 54 of the contact bell crank 50 from the catch 59, whereby the spring 60 will rapidly snap rotate the contact bell crank 50 in the counter-clockwise direction and impinge the moving contact tongue 69 against the stationary arcuate contact shoe 68, thereby closing the circuit through the magnet coils 67 and the battery 72, and energizing the electro-magnet so that the armature 48 will be rotated clockwise to resume the posit-ion illustrated in Fig. 2, after which the above described cycle of operations will be successively repeated. I

It is to be particularly noted that the moving contact tongue 69 makes wiping contact with the stationary arcuate contact shoe 68, and is very rapidly connected and disconnected therewith by the snap action of the spring 60.

Such wiping contact and rapidity of connection and disconnection is very important to minimize sparkin and to insure the successful operation of t 1e motor.

I claim 1. An electrically energized spring motor including a frame, a drive shaft mounted for rotation therein, a half barrel secured to the shaft, another half barrel rotatably mounted on the shaft, one end of the rotatably mounted half barrel being adapted for drivin abutment against one end of the secured ha f barrel when the rotatably mounted half barrel is rotated in one direction, a secondary spring connecting the half barrels for rotating the secured half barrel when the rotatably mounted half barrel is maintained stationary, means preventing rotation of the rotatable half barrel in the other direction, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, a main spring, one end of the main spring being connected with the sleeve and the other end being connected with the frame, an armature rotatably mounted in the frame and being connected with the sleeve, a ratchet driving connection between the armature and the rotatably mounted half barrel for rotating the same in driving abutment against the secured half barrel, a movable contact operatively mounted on the armature, a stationary contact mounted on the frame, an electro-magnct, the movable. contact bcing operated by movement of the armature in one direction to make an electrical connection with the stationary contact and by movement of the armature in another direction to break the electrical connection with the stationary contact, the contacts being adapted for being connected in circuit with the winding of the electro-magnet and a battery. 5

2. An electrically energized spring motor including a rotatable drive shaft, a member secured to the shaft, another member rotatably mountedon the shaft, an end of the rotatably mounted member being adapted for driving abutment against the secured member when the rotatably mounted member is ro tated in one direction, a secondary sprin connecting the members for rotating the sha t when the rotatably mounted member is maintained stationary, means preventing rotation of the rotatable member in the other direction, a main spring arranged for rotating the rotatable member in the first direction, and means for intermittently energizing the main spring.

3. An electrically energized spring motor including an electro-magnet, an armature, energy storing means arranged for moving the armature in one direction when the storing means is energized, and the electro-magnet being adapted when energized to move the armature in the other direction for energizing the energy storing means, a contact movably mounted on the armature, a stationary contact, the movable contact being adapted when moved to one position on the armature for making a wiping connection with the stationary contact during movement of the armature in one direction, and the movable contact being adapted when moved to another position on the armature for passing without connecting with the stationary contact during a movement of the armature in the other direction, and operative means mounted on the moving armature and actuated by movement of the armature in one direction for moving the movable contact to the one position and by movement of the armature in the other direction for moving the movable contact to the other position.

4. An electrically energized spring motor including an electro-magnet, an armature, and a spring, the spring being arranged for moving the armature in one direction when thespringisenergized,andthc electro-magnet being adapted when energized to move the armature in the other direction for energizing the spring, a contact movably mounted on the armature, a stationary contact, the movable contact being adapted wlun moved to one position on the armature for making a wiping connection with the stationary con tact during movement of the armature in one direction, and the movable contact being adapted when moved to another position on the armature for passing without connecting with the static contact d a movement of the 1mm in the 031: direction, and operative means mounted on the moving armature and actuated by movement of the armature in one direction for moving the movable contact to the one position and by movement of the armature in the other direction for moving the movable contact to the other position.

5. In an electrically energized spring motor, a movable armature, a contact movably mounted on the armature, a stationary contact, the movable contact being adapted when moved to one position on the armature for making a wiping connection with the stationary contact during movement of the armature in one direction, and the movable contact being adapted when moved to another position on the armature for passing without connecting with the stations contact during movement of the armature 1n the other direction, and operative means mounted on the moving armature and actuated by movement of the armature in one direction for movin the movable contact to the one position an by movement of the armature in the other d1 rection for moving the movable contact to the other position.

6. In an electrically energized spring motor, a movable armature, a contact movably mounted on the armature, a stationary arcuate contact shoe, the movable contact being adapted when moved to one ition on the armature for making a wiping connection with the stationa arcuate contact shoe during movement 0 the armature in one direction, and the movable contact being adapted when moved to another position on the armature for paming without connectin with halfbarrelintheother rel when the rotatably the stationary arcuate contact shoe uring movement of the armature in the other direction, and operative means mounted on the moving armature and actuated by movement of the armature in one direction for movin the movable contact to the one position an by movement of the armature in the other direction for moving the movable contact .to thg otAbrnr itigrlil. to

e ectri energized spring mo r including a frame}; drive shaft mounted for rotation therein, a halfbarrel secured to the shaft, another halfbarrel rotatably mounted on the shaft, one end of the rotatably mounted half barrel being ada ted for dri abutment against one end the secured h barmounted half barrel is rotated in one direction, a'secondary spring connect' the half barrels for rotatingthe secured half barrel when the rotatably mounted half barrel is maintained statio means preventing rotation of the rotat'ab e "on, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the A a mam spring, one end' of the main spring I conn con withthealeeveandtheothu nected with the frame, an armature rotatably mounted in the frame and being connected with the sleeve, a ratchet driving connection between the armature and the rotatably mounted half barrel for rotating the same in driving abutment agannst the secured half barrel, a movable contact operatively mounted on the armature a stationary arcuate contact shoe mounted on the frame, an electro-magnet, the movable contact being operated by movement of the armature in one direction to make an electrical connection with the stationar arcuate contact shoe and by movement of t 10 armature in another direction to break the electrical connection with the stationary arcuate contact shoe, the contacts being adapted for being connected in circuit with the winding of the electro-magnet and a battery.

8. An electrically energized spring motor including a frame, a drive shaft mounted for rotation therein an arm member secured to the shaft, another arm memberyrotatably mounted on the shaft, a portion of the rotatably mounted arm member being adapted for drivin abutment against a portion of the secured arm member when the. rotatably mounted arm member is rotated in one direction, a secondary sprin connectingvthe arm members for rotatin t e secured arm member when the rotatab y mounted arm member is maintained stationary, means preventing rotation of the rotatable rm member in the other direction, a sleeve ro tabl mounted on the shaft, a main spring, one en of the main s rin being connected with the sleeve and t e at er end being connected with the frame, an armature rotatably mounted in the frame and being connected with the sleeve, a ratchet driving connection between the armature and the rotatablymounted arm member for rotating the same in driving abutment against the secured arm member, a movable contact operatively mounted on the armature, a stationary contact mounted on the frame, an electro-magnet, the movable contact being operated by movement of the armature in one direction to make an electrical connection with the stationary contact and b movement of the armature-in another direction to break the electrical connection with the stationary contact, and the contacts bein adapted for being connected in circuit wit the winding of the elec'tro-magnet and a battery.

9. An electrically energized spring motor including a frame, a drive shaft mounted for rotation therein, an arm member secured to the shaft, another arm member rotatably mounted on the shaft, a portion of the rotatably mounted arm member being adapted for driving abutment against a portion of the secured arm member when the rotatably mounted arm member is rotated in one direction, a secondary sp connecting the arm ber when the rotatably mounted arm member is maintained stationary, means preventing rotation of the rotatable arm member in the other direction, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft, a main spring, one end of the main spring being connected with the sleeve and the other end being connected with the frame, an armature rotatably mounted in the frame and being connected with the sleeve, a 10 ratchet driving connection between the ar mature and the rotatably mounted arm member for rotating the same in driving abutment against the secured arm member, a movable contact operatively mounted on the armature, a stationary arcuate contact shoe mounted on the frame, an electro-magnet, the movable contact being operated by movement of the armature in one direction to make an electrical connection with the stationary arcuate contact shoe and by movement of the armature in another direction to break the electrical connection with the stationary arcuate contact shoe,and the contacts being adapted for being connected in circuit with the wind- 2: ing of the electro-magnet and a battery.

' n testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH SCHIBLER. 

